Two major oil refineries in Russia were targeted by drone attacks in the early hours of August 2, 2025, resulting in intense fires and significant damage to industrial facilities. The incidents occurred in the cities of Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk, in the Samara region, according to information released by the Telegram channel Astra.
In Ryazan, residents reported a loud explosion after the impact of a drone, followed by a large flame that lit up the night sky. The Ryazan Oil Refinery is one of the largest in Russia, responsible for about 5% of the country’s refining capacity. In 2024, the plant processed around 13.1 million tons of oil, equivalent to approximately 262,000 barrels per day.
The Ryazan industrial complex houses four main oil refining units and various pieces of equipment for hydrotreating, cracking, and catalytic reforming. The refinery also produces a wide range of derivatives, including bitumen, LPG, sulfuric acid, and advanced petrochemical products.
A similar situation occurred in Novokuibyshevsk, where another drone attack resulted in a large-scale fire, with a column of flames visible from a great distance. The regional governor, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, confirmed the offensive on a social network, stating that “UAVs attacked one of the industrial companies in Novokuibyshevsk.”
The local refinery plays a strategic role for the Russian military-industrial complex, supplying fuel for various platforms, including Su-27, MiG-29 fighters, and Tu-22M and Tu-160 bombers.
The unit processes more than 1 million tons of raw materials per year and offers a range of 30 to 50 different products, such as liquefied gases, benzene, acetone, olefins, and MTBE.
In addition, the refinery is the only producer of synthetic ethanol and para-tert-butylphenol (PTBF) in Russia, substances that are strategic for both the domestic industry and CIS countries. In 2016, the plant reached a production capacity of 1.1 million tons of refined products.
The origin of the drones and the full extent of the damage have not yet been officially confirmed by Russian authorities. However, the attacks highlight the increasing vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the face of offensives involving unmanned aircraft.
Source and images: Telegram @milinfolive | @exilenova_plus | militarnyi. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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